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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Nutrient pollution' harming UK | 'Nutrient pollution' harming UK |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The UK countryside is being altered by the continuing use of dangerous amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, according to a report. | The UK countryside is being altered by the continuing use of dangerous amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, according to a report. |
| The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said "nutrient pollution" was impacting on wildlife. | The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said "nutrient pollution" was impacting on wildlife. |
| The chemicals come from inorganic fertiliser, household detergents in sewage and fossil fuels, it said. | The chemicals come from inorganic fertiliser, household detergents in sewage and fossil fuels, it said. |
| It acknowledged efforts to cut down on these but said more needed to be done by government, farmers and industry. | It acknowledged efforts to cut down on these but said more needed to be done by government, farmers and industry. |
| Levels of nitrogen and phosphorus have doubled and trebled respectively since the industrial revolution, the report said. | Levels of nitrogen and phosphorus have doubled and trebled respectively since the industrial revolution, the report said. |
| And fertiliser now accounts for about 60% of the nitrogen and about 80% of phosphorus used in the UK. | |
| The number and variety of plants and animals was changing as a result and many species were under pressure, the report said. | The number and variety of plants and animals was changing as a result and many species were under pressure, the report said. |
| Damaging pollution of the countryside will continue unless action is taken RSPB | Damaging pollution of the countryside will continue unless action is taken RSPB |
| "Strong causal links exist, in a number of cases, between nutrient pollution and knock-on effects on the food chain of wildlife, including birds," the report said. | "Strong causal links exist, in a number of cases, between nutrient pollution and knock-on effects on the food chain of wildlife, including birds," the report said. |
| "Damaging pollution of the countryside will continue unless action is taken to reduce the amount of inorganic nutrients reaching the environment from all sources. | "Damaging pollution of the countryside will continue unless action is taken to reduce the amount of inorganic nutrients reaching the environment from all sources. |
| "Knowledge and technologies exist to improve nutrient management in all sectors." | "Knowledge and technologies exist to improve nutrient management in all sectors." |
| One bird, the red-backed shrike, was said to have been pushed to extinction in the UK by the intensification of agriculture. | One bird, the red-backed shrike, was said to have been pushed to extinction in the UK by the intensification of agriculture. |
| And the RSPB said the bittern was among the species at risk. | And the RSPB said the bittern was among the species at risk. |
| Hidden resource | Hidden resource |
| A separate report from watchdog the Environment Agency has highlighted the threat pollution and growing demand is putting on groundwater supplies in England and Wales. | A separate report from watchdog the Environment Agency has highlighted the threat pollution and growing demand is putting on groundwater supplies in England and Wales. |
| Nitrogen, pesticides, solvents and other chemicals were seeping through soils and from water running off roads and other surfaces, it said. | Nitrogen, pesticides, solvents and other chemicals were seeping through soils and from water running off roads and other surfaces, it said. |
| Pharmaceuticals such as the anti-bacterial agent triclosan, found in soaps and toothpastes, were also cited as a concern. It is thought bacteria that help break down other pollutants could be killed off. | Pharmaceuticals such as the anti-bacterial agent triclosan, found in soaps and toothpastes, were also cited as a concern. It is thought bacteria that help break down other pollutants could be killed off. |
| "To many of us, groundwater is out of sight and out of mind," said Environment Protection Director Tricia Henton said. | "To many of us, groundwater is out of sight and out of mind," said Environment Protection Director Tricia Henton said. |
| "But this hidden resource which provides, clean, fresh water for our homes, industry, agriculture and the environment is a limited resource that must be properly managed and protected." | "But this hidden resource which provides, clean, fresh water for our homes, industry, agriculture and the environment is a limited resource that must be properly managed and protected." |
| She said good progress had been made in recent years with bans on some pesticides and the doubling of the number of groundwater-monitoring sites. | She said good progress had been made in recent years with bans on some pesticides and the doubling of the number of groundwater-monitoring sites. |